Who should play alongside Lionel Messi next season?

Graham Hunter is a Barcelona-based freelance author for ESPN.com who makes a speciality of La Liga and the Spanish nationwide group.

However for the insanity at Anfield within the Champions League semifinal, Barcelona may nonetheless be on monitor for a Treble. It is price remembering this when assessing the squad and what the membership may do that summer season. As an alternative, they’ve received La Liga and face Valencia within the Copa del Rey ultimate, however Ernesto Valverde’s future continues to be removed from safe. We’ve analyzed the squad based mostly on the premise that he stays: Clearly, ought to he get replaced by a really completely different supervisor, the membership’s technique is perhaps very completely different, too.

Equally, it is essential for folks to grasp that Barcelona have spent fairly closely in latest seasons, not simply when it comes to switch charges — with a internet spend of practically €250 million over the previous three years — however when it comes to wages and commitments to renovate infrastructure. Plus, they’ve already dedicated round €80m on midfielder Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona, who will be a part of in the summertime, and Brazilian right-back Emerson, who spent the previous couple of months at Betis.

HUNTER: “No need to extend given his age, but he’s a gigantic asset, comparable to Luka Modric. He’s had to do double duty this year in helping Busquets and he really doesn’t want to leave.”

MARCOTTI: “I disagree. De Jong is coming, you want to get [Carles] Alena more minutes … if Sergi Roberto plays more midfield, you’re fine for numbers there. You can get €40m for Rakitic, maybe more.”

VERDICT: Mixed

Carles Alena (21, 2022)

VERDICT: Keep and extend; also increase his buyout clause

Arturo Vidal (31, 2021)

HUNTER: “I was surprised at how disciplined he has been this year. He gives you something different in terms of physicality, so unless you get a younger player who does the same things, you keep him.”

MARCOTTI: “The thing about Vidal is that he won’t play a lot of games, but he’s OK with that. He wants to be there when it matters and, I agree, this team could use some fire. I doubt he’d want to move anyway, so even if you get an offer, he stays.”

VERDICT: Keep unless you get an offer of €20m or more

Arturo Vidal has been useful for Barca this season but could be expendable, given that he has value, if the club needs to clear room for incoming stars. David Aliaga/NurPhoto via Getty Images

HUNTER: “Sell him now: You won’t get a lot given his contractual situation and injuries, maybe €7-8m. He needs playing time and he won’t get it here, unfortunately.”

MARCOTTI: “I think he’s very useful when fit. Keep him and if he proves his fitness, extend him and then either sell or keep him going forward. If he doesn’t, you lose him on a free, but it’s worth the risk.”

VERDICT: Mixed

Riqui Puig (19, 2021)

VERDICT: Keep and extend

Andre Gomes (25, 2021)

HUNTER: “The Camp Nou is not a happy place for him. Cash in.”

MARCOTTI: “I’d imagine Everton would take him [after a successful loan this season]. If not, someone else in the Premier League will.”

VERDICT: Sell (Estimated price: €35m)

Denis Suarez (25, 2021)

HUNTER: “A lot of clubs still like him; I think you can get €20m for him.”

MARCOTTI: “I’m not sure you will get €20m for a guy who has been in the Premier League shop window for six months and started zero games. So if I’m getting less than that, I’m better off loaning him out again and keeping my fingers crossed that he stays fit and does well.”

VERDICT: Mixed

FORWARDS

Ousmane Dembele (21 years old, contract expires in 2022)

VERDICT: Keep

Philippe Coutinho is sure to be a victim in Barcelona’s reshuffle. They’ll take a heavy loss on him in a sale, but it’s clear he can’t handle life at one of Spain’s big two. VI Images via Getty Images

HUNTER: “He isn’t making the grade. Players like him — he’s a good guy in the dressing room — are useful. I think you can still get €70m for him.”

MARCOTTI: “I agree. Cut your losses. Seventy is a bit steep but then again, Kia Joorabchian is pretty good at getting big fees for the guys he advises.”

VERDICT: Sell (Estimated price: €70m)

Lionel Messi (31, 2021)

VERDICT: Keep and extend his contract

Malcom (22, 2023)

HUNTER: “He’s an undervalued asset and he’s a counterattacker who gives Barcelona something different. He can be in the ‘Pedro role.’ Unless someone offers more than €40m, I’d keep him.”

MARCOTTI: “I agree: He needs playing time and because I’d add two more front men, I don’t see him getting much next season. So, for me, the logical thing to do is loan him.”

VERDICT: Mixed

Luis Suarez is approaching the twilight of his career, and while he’s still good for another season or so, it’s time for Barcelona to pivot to their next target man up front. LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images

HUNTER: “Given his age, his meniscus and the fact that you’d have a sulky Messi if he left, you keep him. He did have a great season domestically and you can think about how you’ll ease him out over time.”

MARCOTTI: “He needs a strong backup so his minutes can be managed more effectively. No point upsetting Messi either. Look for Suarez to stay another season, maybe two, and when David Beckham’s Miami MLS franchise takes off, perhaps you have a destination.”

VERDICT: Keep for now and decide later

Kevin-Prince Boateng (32, 2019)

VERDICT: Let him go when contract expires this summer

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

There are 29 players discussed above, three of whom were on loan elsewhere — none are staying. Plus, you have three expiring contracts, one expiring loan and Inaki Pena, whom you keep at Barcelona B. That leaves 21 bodies plus de Jong coming in, which makes it 22.

Barcelona have been closely linked with Antoine Griezmann and Matthijs de Ligt. Griezmann is doable at €135m and is an effective alternative. He provides objectives, he has the persona to play with Messi, you’ll be able to put him anyplace. If that occurs, clearly, you’d want to boost some money by promoting Coutinho, which must also be doable.

You’ll most likely additionally like to herald a real center-forward who’s glad to sit down on the bench. A participant like Cristhian Stuani could be perfect: not a famous person, however a blue-collar man who can combine it and provide you with a distinct dimension when wanted. Give him a short-term deal when you anticipate Abel Ruiz to develop.

De Ligt is a man you’re taking if you will get him as a result of he is a generational expertise — probably with the value tag to match, one which may very well be as excessive as €100m — although you actually do not essentially want one other top-drawer central defender. If de Ligt is off the desk and you are not satisfied by Umtiti’s health, then — and solely then — do you add a reserve central defender. You do want somebody to again up Jordi Alba and, in an ideal state of affairs, you’d get a man with just a little peak and perhaps even the flexibility to fill in as an emergency central defender, Eric Abidal-style.

You will want a goalkeeper to switch Cillessen, although we differ on the profile: Gab thinks a short-term veteran is okay whereas Graham desires a extra established, Cillessen-type backup.

Including up the numbers, if Barca do signal Griezmann and de Ligt, plus the reserve keeper, striker and left again we spoke about, that is a spend approaching €350m while you issue within the accomplished offers for de Jong and Emerson, too. Merely promoting Coutinho, Cillessen and Andre Gomes will get you again perhaps €130m, which is not sufficient. You possibly can’t fathom Barcelona with a internet spend north of €200m: At that stage, it’s important to make some robust selections and promote different guys: Rakitic? Malcom? Umtiti? Vidal?

That is the conundrum Barca face this summer season. Move on de Ligt and you may maintain the aforementioned quartet and maintain the accountants glad. The younger Dutchman has been provided to Barcelona: Making the right determination right here is without doubt one of the membership’s largest calls of the offseason.